Visualizer



Aug, 6, 1935. N. STEPHENS VISUALIZER Filed May 26, 1934 2 snets-sheet 1 g ZIEVEETOB ATTORNEY Aug. 6, 1935. N. E. STEPHENS VISUALIZER Filed May 26, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .INVE OR 5 ATTORN EY Patented Aug. 6 1935 UNITED smi es PATENT or-Fic e yzmoiso fj g v Noble E. Stephens, Bronxville, N. Y.,-assighor t0 :Glarenoe L...S.tephens, NewIolk, N. Y.

Thisinventionreiatestd apparatus designed to present to thevision'varying groupsofharmoniz- =ing or contrasting moiored or ether representation's in-pictori-ai-manner,'fortheplrrpose were the 'user' in the sei'ectionof a suitable-deemtiveensemble, whetherit be-ior a room interior, a nouse exterior; or for any other porpose what- "soe'ver. j

For such purpose my improvement comprises "a casing having in its cover 1 a *iransparen't portion to expose "a "selected group of -=co1ored, "pic- 'torial representations -borne by-'-respec'tive strips whichare each shii table separately and bear a number of representations of the same ciess, but df 'diifercnt 'col'orfshade"or -tiritj-in order-that separate groups composed of-'selectedrepreserita;-

tions from each strip may be exposed to view Tor-selective appraisement.

My invention includes "the provision-of "spaced pairs-of parallel shafts mounted *the casing tron-t and rear wailsand carrying spools-t0 which the 'representati'onmearing strips are windi-ngl-y connected, rotating means provided for one shaft-of each "pair, and each pair of shafts having-drive connecting 'means so t-hait the st'rip ma-y be shifted in either direction.

ifilso *my invention "includes "the provision or one or" morerepresentationbearing strips mounted'onspaced apart *spools *whose axes are perpendicular to the axes-of the previously mem 'tioned"spoolsand Which*areequallyprovidedwith "rotating 'means and means *for driving them in either direction.

"Still further my invention includes "the "provision of "knobs orhand1es which are attached to portions or "the respective 'sh'ajfts for "one set of the spools that project through *the front wall or "the casing for the manualeperation "of "the spools "and hence "of the strips. 7

Alsothe casing is providedwvith descriptive wording, displayed thereon 'in proximity to the respective "handlesto 'designa'teithe Character of the representations" borne bythe respective strips that are operable bythe'hand1es.

'Otheriieatures and advantages of my'inventionwillhereinafter-appear.

'In the .rdrawings:-

Figure 14's a perspective viewof :myimproved visualizing apparatus. :is,=a top-plan rv-iewof --the=same., swith .the:=cover removed. U V; mEig. -3 is: a view similar to that of ;-;Fig. 2,;art1y in horizontal section, and [the 'giepnesentation strips broken :ewayrtoexpose Attic-inoperative V; i4 i ga Fig. '8'.

" -Fig. 5 is a section taken on the "line 5 5 of 6 *is "a section taken on rig. M

In said views let I indicate a, -'-box -or container which, in Figs. 1 4, 5 and 6 is-shownes provided-With -a cover 2 --tha=t -ma-y be hinged thereto and i is provided withiast-em-ng means 3. -=A1so-the-'c'over [is shown as -provided. with a cub-out tl'rat' mey -be fitted with a glass or -other transparent closure 5 for t-h'e inspection of an assembled group *of "pictorial *representations presented thereat-by "the movable strips.

-S0me or strips ere shiftable from side to within the *casi-ng, andthese strips are *resper:ti'vely"denoted bythe reference-numerals "I5, Fl, 8, $8. smother strip i'iere inaf-ter described, is shiiteible between -the front and back: :of the casing.

-'-$ti'ip 6 which in 'theexample, illustrated in the drawings, bearsa-series-of color or other representations r su-itable for a Wall covering, is carried by the *spodis W; H *thet are disposed, in spaced re1a tion,=-et"opposite sides of the cut-out dfto-present m-"succession arrested wall represenate'n intermedieteportion'ef saidcut-out. "Ehespoois H, Pl-are Tespectivelymounted on section taken on the line 1 the line 6- 5 of haifts iiififl thatere iournalled in bearing members* F5 securednespeti-vely to the-front and rear wall s 6f the easing, -i-nside said --walls. Each of the-athflfts l3, P4caniesa'eprocket'whed [6, said sprooketsbeingoonnected as-bye chain H ,whereby the -motion of one :shaft is communicated to the other, and thus the -strip may be shifted in either-direction at orm. I filso 'adapted Tor'exposurethroug'h "thecut-out isth'e'strip Pw'fiichbears' asei'ies'ofcolor or other representationsenitableior a floor covering,.this strip "being disposed for exposure near'the forwardportiofi dfthe cut-out, and being carried by a gpelir of spaced apart spools l'8, l9 that are mounted, 1 respectively, on 1 shafts '20,, "2 I which shalftssarejournalledfinthebearing members l5. Theishaftslm, "2 each carryra, sprocket A and sprockets are connected .byda chain-B.

Also (adapted [110 exp sure through the cut-out isthe stripl winch bears-ra seriesofzcolor or other representationsirsuitable iorv-iurniture, this :strip ibein gqdigposed, for expoilmoithrou theeut-out;

betweenrthestrips hand 1, sandtbeing earriedrby 24, 25, which shafts are also journalled in the bearing members 55.

The sleeves C each carry a sprocket 26, which sprockets are connected by a chain 21, and one of said sleeves C also carries a sprocket 23 which engages by a chain 29 with a sprocket 30 that is mounted on a shaft 3! disposed in adjacent parallelism with sleeve C that said shaft 3! and sleeve C may have mutual rotation, the shaft 3i being journalled in bearings l5.

The strip 8, which bears a series of colored or other representations suitable for depicting a ceiling covering, is disposed for exposure, through the cut-out, above the strip 6, and is carried by a pair of spools 223 that are mounted, respectively, on the shafts 24, 25, to be thereby capable of rotation by said shafts independently of sleevesC,

the shafts 24, 25 having their own-.SProckets 32 which are connected by a chain 33.

The shafts I3, 20, and 24 each extend' 'out through the front wall of thecasing and there are provided respectively with knobs or handles 34, 35 and 36, whereby they and their strip bearing spools may be manipulated. The shalft 3i, whieheontrols the operation of sleeves C and their strip 8, also projects through the casing front wall and is provided an operating knob or handle 37. v n j 1 H As will be apparent from the foregoing disclosure the strips 6, i, 8 and}! may be selectively shifted, independently of one another, for the purpose of assembling at the cut-out desired representative groups showing wall, floor andceiling coverings, androom furniture, all either harmoniously or contrastingly r'elated.

Means for supporting the aforementioned strips 6, 7, 8 and 9 are provided in the form of a sheet 38 of suitable stiff material that is placed trans verseiy across the casing and may be secured to the upper edges of the bearing members 55, said sheet 33 thus serving as a guide to localize the strips and hold them closely .up against the cutouttransparent covering 5. V

Also, an inverted U -shaped or yoke-like bracket is mounted within the casing, beneath sheet 33, its legs 39 forming the bearings for a, pair of shafts 46 that carry spools Min spaced relation, said spools engaging a strip 42 which bears a series of colored or other representations of woodtrim, curtains and the like, arranged to be disclosed through the cut-out, at one side thereof, to complete room interior groupings. This strip 42, by reason of its side location and height, is adapted tobe shifted between the back and front or top and bottom of the cut-out, for which purpose the axes of the shafts. 4 0 lie perpendicularlyto the axes of the previously named shafts. In order that the strip 42 may be brought over the upper surface of guide sheet 38,. for exposure through the cut-out, slots 43 areprovided through said guide sheet, and the strip is threaded through said slots in assembling the apparatus,

A shaft 44, whose ends are journalled respectively in the bearing members 15 isprovided with spur or star wheels 45 which mesh with spur or star wheels 46 carried by the shafts40', and by these means the rotation of shaft 44 is communicated to the spools 4| for the desired shifting of the strip 42. One end of shaft" 44 projects through the front wallof the casing and is there provided with a manipulatingknob or handle 4T.

The knobs or handles 41, 34, 31,36- and 35 are disposed in a row outside the front of the casing,

and the shiftable strips which they are intended to control are designated upon the cover in positions respectively above said knobs or handles, the designations in the example illustrated being the words TrimWallsFurniture-Ceilings-- Floors.

The user, therefore, having turned knob or handle 34, for example, to expose a desired color or other representation for the wall, may then, in succession shift the other strips to assemble a group of harmonizing or artistically contrasting representations from the remaining strips.

Obviously,instead of exposing through the cutout groups of color or other representations for a room interior, my improved visualizing apparatus may be employed for creating similar groupings of building exteriors as Well as other scenic adaptations.

'Variations within the spirit and scope of my invention areequally comprehended by the foregoing disclosure.

I claim:

, v 1. An apparatus of the class described comprising a casing having a cut-out therein, a number of spaced apart spools revolubly mounted in said casing, strips located in adjacent parallel zones that each bear a series of different representations, another strip bearing a series of different representations located in a zone that extends perpendicularly with said first named strips, one of said strips adapted to pass beneath the overlapping inner edges of the adjacent companion strips, .all said strips being borne respectively by said pairs of spools and adapted to be shifted in opposite directions, to expose selected representations onsaid strips in group form at said cut-out, means for co-ordinating the spool movements of each pair, and control means for a spool of each pair.

2. An apparatus of the class described comprising a casing having a cut-out portion therein, sets of spacedapart spools revolubly mounted in said casing, a pair of strips each bearing a series of different representations, mounted for parallel movement upon said sets of spools, a single set of spaced apart spools horizontally alined and arranged between the first mentioned sets of spaced apart spools, a strip bearing a series of different representations mounted for movement upon said single set 'of spools, the outer edges thereof adapted to pass beneath the overlapping inner edges of the first mentioned pair of movable strips, all said stripsadapted to be shifted in opposite directions, to expose selected representation on said strips in group form at said cut-out, means for co-ordinating the spool movements of each pair and control means for a spool of each pair.

3. An apparatus of the class described comprising a casing having a cut-out therein, sets of spaced apart spools revolubly mounted in said casing, a pair of strips each bearing a series of different representations, mounted for parallel movement upon said sets of spools, a single set of spaced apart spools horizontally alined and arranged between the first mentioned sets of spaced apart spools, a strip bearing a series of different representations mounted for movement upon said single set of spools, the outer edges thereof adapted to pass beneath the overlapping inner edges of the first mentioned pair of movable strips, an additional pair of spaced apart spools alined horizontally with and externally of the first mentioned sets of spaced apart spools, a strip bearing a series of different representations mounted for movement upon the last mentionedpair of spools one of the edges thereof adapted to overlap the adjacent edge of one of. the first mentioned pair til of strips, all said strips adapted to be shifted in opposite directions, to expose selected representations on said strips in group form at said cut-out, means for co-ordinating the spool movements of each pair and control means for a spool of each pair.

4. An apparatus of the class described comprising a casing having a cut-out therein, sets of spaced apart spools revolubly mounted in said casing, a pair of strips each bearing a series of different representations, mounted for movement upon said sets of spools, a single set of spaced apart spools horizontally alined and arranged between the first mentioned sets of spaced apart spools, a strip bearing a series of different representations mounted for movement upon said single set of spools, the outer edges thereof adapted to pass beneath the overlapping inner edges of the first mentioned pair of movable strips, an additional pair oi spaced apart spools alined horizontally with and externally of the first mentioned sets of spaced apart spools, a strip bearing a series of different representations mounted for movement upon the last mentioned pair of spools one of the edges thereof adapted to overlap the adjacent edge of one o! the first mentioned pair of strips, another strip bearing a series of diiferent representations located in a zone that extends perpendicularly with and at one side of said first named strips, all said strips adapted to be shifted in opposite directions, to expose selected representations on said strips in group form at said cut-out, means for co-ordinatingthe spool movements of each pair and control means for a spool of each pair.

NOBLE E. STEPHENS. 

